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Amanda Parker-Gustafson is pleased with her life journey. A 2006 graduate of Brown Mackie College – Hopkinsville, her diploma in Medical Assisting provides a solid foundation as she moves forward. She landed a position at a local hospital shortly after graduation.
Amanda now holds the position of Cardiovascular Technician, working with heart patients at Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, Tennessee. “I am primarily responsible for attaining accurate EKG’s using a 12 Lead Method,” she says. “I must also observe all patients within the hospital on heart monitors and record rhythms and rate changes.”
While she has mastered the technology and enjoys all aspects of her work, her biggest passion is interacting with patients. “Helping people is where my heart is.
If I can do anything to make a patient’s day better or just put a smile on their face, I am satisfied. I come home each day with instant gratification,” says Amanda. “The fact that my ability can possibly save someone’s life is very rewarding.”
Continuing her education at Brown Mackie College – Hopkinsville was an enjoyable experience. “It’s a wonderful school. I would suggest it to anyone,” she says. “I loved the hands-on training. The medical instructors are wonderful motivators with exciting teaching techniques. I loved the hands-on classes. My most favorite ones were the clinicals. We wore scrubs—actual professional clothes—as we learned how to perform CPR, sterilize equipment, and draw blood. It felt real. I was doing all of the things that would be expected from me in real world.”
Two Brown Mackie College faculty members stand out in her mind: Mr. Warren Thompson and Ms. Linda Kuhlenbeck. “They were absolutely phenomenal,” she says. “We didn’t just hit the books. They told us stories of their professional experiences. I couldn’t wait to go to class.”
Parker-Gustafson is preparing now for testing to become a Certified Cardiographic Technician. “I do not plan on stopping there,” she says. “The best advice I have for other students to succeed in school and work is to have a joyful personality and look for any opportunities every day to learn or to teach something interesting.”
Personal Attention, Professional Growth
www.brownmackie.edu
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